Quote Originally Posted by SorenMacTavish View Post
Great topic. Now I pose a question to the rabble...what does one do when after having traced ancestry/genealogy and has found direct descent from more than 6 clans? Would it be bad form to wear any/all of them individually? Thanks in advance.
My paternal Gran was a Shaw. My maternal Gran was a Robertson. My father's paternal name is a Lowland (found along the Borders, near Kirkudbright) name with no strong clan connections. My maternal grandfather's surname was firmly English.

I would wear either Shaw or Robertson since my clan affiliations are through paternal and maternal lines.
My family has always kept up with traditions through maternal lines rather than paternal (being partly of Cherokee heritage this is very much in line with that). For example, the youngest daughter receives the family Bible upon coming of age (adulthood). Little things like that.
My father's family is largely disinterested in our Highland heritage. My mother's family is more interested in the history of the family. I am closer to my mother's family than my father's family. Thus, I would be more inclined to wear the Robertson tartan than the Shaw tartan (although I find both to be equally aesthetically pleasing).


I would not, however, wear a tartan to which I do not have a direct connection. If, for example, my 5th great grandmother was a MacDonald then I would feel a bit too removed wearing that tartan. It would feel like a bit of a stretch.

I won't dictate to others about what they may or may not wear. I don't pay their bills and I don't walk in their shoes. However, I also do not have the "collect them all" mentality that some chaps have regarding tartan.

I have no qualms about wearing a Universal tartan but, again, I have one Universal tartan (Holyrood) that I wear wholest awaiting a Robertson kilt in 16oz wool.

To each their own but there IS a tradition behind tartan and although my view on the matter is somewhat relaxed compared to, say JockScot, it is still along the lines of traditional thinking and out of respect for aforementioned tradiition.


Just my tuppence.